The objective of the course is to provide students an insight
into the overall options, limitations and constrains pertaining to
small complex production systems with a large tree component under
a wide range of conditions, with particular emphasis on the
tropics. The course should enable students to relate to
agroforestry systems under different bio-physical, socio-economic
and political settings and suggest development strategies to
improve outputs of the systems

By the end of the course the students are expected to be able
to:

Knowledge

Describe positive and negative effects of trees on physical
(e.g. soil, microclimate, water balance) and biological (e.g.
crops, animals, and pests) factors in different systems, climates
and topography.

List major crop and agroforestry trees and their interaction in
agroforestry systems

List major types of pest and diseases in tropical
agriculture

Describe how interaction may change with seasons and with
growth and development of trees

Describe relevant technical and management operations, which
can be used to improve total yield, food security, financial
security and other relevant outputs of the AF system

Describe the interaction between livestock and the bio-physical
environment in agroforestry systems

Describe the principle of nutrient cycling and energy flow in
small subsistence systems with a large tree component

Describe how political and cultural regulations may improve or
discourage perennial crops in farming systems

Skills

Analyse and describe the synergetic, complementary and
competitive relations between different species in small complex
systems consisting of several crops, animals and tree species

Analyse the framework of biophysical conditions in the main
types of tropical systems (humid lowland, dry areas and highlands
tropics) and temperate regions and its influence and limitation on
agricultural systems.

Explain key socio-economic constraints and limitations in
relation to present conditions and adoptability of improved
practices, for example under different economic, political,
historical and cultural settings

Explain how presence of trees in general and particular species
alter conditions for pest and pathogens, and how trees may
aggravate or reduce pest and disease problems as compared with
non-AF systems

Analyse quantitative and qualitative outputs of agroforestry
systems in relation to investment and production cost, seasonality,
market and domestic need

Competences

Recommend relevant agroforestry interventions to meet /cope with
/ overcome short and long term food problems, production
constraints and / or environmental degradation

Teaching is primarily based
on regular classroom sessions. Teaching material such as lecture
notes, exercises and overview material will be distributed during
classroom sessions and uploaded to KU e-learning system Absalon.
Selected parts may be taught and discussed via
e-learning.

Description of examination: The written assignment is a 24
hour written assignment, which takes place half way through the
course. Students develop the agroforestry component of a
pre-written framework of a particular farm in a particular
environment. The assignment includes only those topics taught
during the first modules of the course. The individual cases are
submitted via e-mail and answer should be returned via e-mail
within 24 hours.
The oral exam may start with 1-2 clarifying questions to written
work and answers be evaluated together as part of the written exam.
The main part of the oral exam will be a a discussion of a randomly
selected topic covering any of the course modules
Weight: The final grade will be based on a total evaluation of the
two parts of the exam (50%+50%). The exam is passed when the
average grade is passed.

Aid

All aids allowed

Marking scale

7-point grading scale

Censorship form

No external censorship

Several internal examiners

Re-exam

Written assignement and oral examination. 24 hours written
assigment handed out during the re-examination week, followed by an
oral examination of 20 minutes. The final grade will be based on a
total evaluation of the two parts of the exam (50%+50%). The exam
is passed when the average grade is passed.